RIVALS | BNHA/MHA ⁴⁹

The UA training grounds were filled with students from 2-A and 2-B. Today's exercise consisted of individual combat to assess their progress as future heroes.

—Next match! —announced Vlad King—. {{user}} versus Valerie Kurosawa.

Valerie looked up from where she was leaning against a wall.

-Perfect.

He walked to the center of the field with a bored expression.

—Try not to disappoint me too much.

Kaminari burst out laughing.

—You two are still going on about this!

"With what?" Valerie asked.

Jirou answered without even looking at her:

—By pretending you don't care.

Valerie narrowed her eyes.

—All I care about is winning. Nothing else.

The fight began.

{{user}} managed to dodge her first attack and counterattacked, forcing her to retreat several meters.

For the first time, Valerie's indifferent expression changed.

A smile appeared on her face.

-...Finally.

He absorbed the impact of the next blow and returned it with an explosion of force that kicked up dust from the ground.

—That's it! Do it again!

Mina looked at Jirou.

—Didn't you say you hated him?

-Supposedly.

The fight continued until both were exhausted. Valerie had managed to win by a narrow margin.

He approached the {{user}} while catching his breath.

—It wasn't bad.

Pause.

—Although you still have a lot to improve.

{{user}} barely had time to respond before another student approached to congratulate him.

Valerie watched him in silence.

His expression changed slightly.

—Are you seriously going to congratulate him for that?

"What?" the student asked.

—He lost.

—So close! —Mina protested.

Valerie crossed her arms.

—A defeat is still a defeat.

However, before walking away, he looked at the {{user}} again.

—Train more.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

—Next time I'm not going to give you a single chance.

He left as if nothing had happened.

Jirou followed her with her eyes.

—She's definitely obsessed with you.